Sifter and measuring device



April 7, 1953 E. I ARsoN sIFTER AND MEASURING DEVICE 2' SHEETS-SHEET l Filed March 30, 1950 INVENTOR. LARSON EUGENE April 7, 1953 E. LARsoN 2,633,988

' SIFTER AND MEASURING DEVICE Filed March 30, 195o 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENToR. EUGENE L ARSON BW j l 5 t I ,may

Patented Apr. 7, 1953 -UN1TED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 30, 1950,'Serial No. 152,776

1 Claim.

This invention relates to sifters and measur ing devices and is particularly adapted for sifting and measuring flour, sugar and the like.

The primary object of this invention is the combination of a sifter and measuring cup adapted to receive packages or cartons, as for instance cake flour `and the like, so that the contents can be sifted directly from the container and measured into a receiving cup.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sifter and measuring combination wherein different sized measuring containers may be used with the sifting device.

With my new and improved sitter and measuring device the contents of a package or carton can be sifted and measured simultaneously, and when the measuring container is removed from the device it automatically shuts off the flow of the contents from the carton.

A further object of my invention is to design a sifter and measuring device that can be left on the carton containing flour and the like while not in use, except that the measuring container is removed therefrom.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my new and improved sifter and measuring device, showing the position of a package or'carton by broken lines.

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1 looking into the measuring container in the direction of line 2-2 Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional side View of my new and improved sifter and measuring device illustrating the measuring cup in position for receiving the contents from a package.

Figure 4 is a plan sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, partly in section view, similar to Figure 3, except that the container is about to be placed under the sifter, or just having been removed therefrom, illustrating how the contents of the package can be blocked oi until the measuring device is in place.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the measuring container.

Figure 'l is a side view of my new and improved sifting and measuring device having a package or carton therein.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional plan view, taken just over the screen and under the sifting unit.

Referring more specifically to the drawings:

My new and improved sifter and measuring device consists of a box or receptacle I, having sides 2 and 3, and ends 4 and A5, including a bottom 6. The bottom 6 has an opening 1 bridged by a screen 8. rIhe said screen may be molded into the'bottom 6 in the event of plastic material. An agitator 9, consisting of agitating bars I9 is adapted to move overV the surface ofthe screen 8 by the action of the connection bar II, which passes through the end wall v5at I2 cooperating with an operating handle I3. A bar I9 extends across the receptacle and over the agitator to form a guide for and retain the agitator 9 against and in contact with the screen 8.

The operating handle I3 is pivotally mounted at I4 within the handle I5 at its upper end, and having its lower end I6 operating through the slot Il of the said handle and extending downwardly therefrom, passing through theY slot I8 formed within the end I9 of the connecting bar I I. The sifter unit 9 is held in the position illus#- trated in the drawings by the action of the spring 20, the said spring is anchored to the handle I5 at 2| at its one end and bears against the lever I3 at its opposite end, forcing the same to the position shown.` The agitator bars I9 are operated back and forth over the screen 8 by the operator pulling the lever I3 towards the handle I5 while holding the unit, the spring 20 returning the sifter unit to its starting position.

I will now describe the operation of the measuring cup under the sifter. The measuring cup is indicated by numeral 22. This cup has an outwardly extending flange 23, which is adapted to slide in the guideway 24 of the side walls 2 and 3. A shutter 25 is also adapted to slide in the said guideway, said shutter closes the opening 1 of the bottom of the box I. The flange 2B of the guideway 25 has a shoulder 21 against which the downwardly turned portion 28 of the shutter 25 engages, limiting the travel of the shutter to that illustrated in Figure 5.

A transverse tongue 29 is formed on the ange 23 of the container 22 and is adapted to enter the groove 30 on one end of the shutter, best illustrated in Figures 3 and 5. When the groove and tongue come together the flange 23 of the measuring container 22 will be in alignmentV with the shutter 25 and may enter the guideways 24, and when the container is pushed under the opening l, the shutter 25 will be pushed from under the said opening as illustrated in Figure 3. The operator will then operate the lever I3 oscillating the agitator 9 causing the contents of the package 3l to be sifted through the screen 8 into the measuring container 22.

When the container is filled, the handle 32 of 33 Within the box I.

Several measuring containers 22-;ofnyarious sizes are furnished with one of the sifting unitsv l. When the sifter unit and the carton Aor pack- The carton 3l is spaced above the box? or container and supported on the offsetshoulder age is placed in its storage place, as forfinstance Y in the cupboard, the container is removed therefrom allowing -thesifter unit V-to rest on `the .shelf of the said cupboard.

Although certainvspecifc embodiments of the invention have been shown. and described, `it isfobvious that many modifications thereof .are possible. The invention, therefore, is .not to rbe restricted except inso far asfis .necessitatedrby the prior art andby the spirit. ofthe appended claim.

What (I claim is:

A. sifter, comprising an elongated ;receptac1e formed in its Vbottom andvat one end` with an opening, parallel guides formedaon the inside near the .bottom of thereceptacle, a manually operable shutter operating in the guides, the shutter having a lug. at one -end andI a depressionat Vitsopposite` end, a .stop on v.the vguidewaywith which the ylug engages when the shutter is drawn toward Athe opening, a cup under the openingfsaid cup having side anges which slide in theparallel guides,-a =1ug on `the--rear-of the-cup to zengage in the depression in the shutter, a screen over the opening, an agitator slidably mounted over the screen and in contact with the surface thereof, the agitator having a bar extending therefrom and through an opening formed in the end of the receptacle, a bar extending across the receptacle and over the agitator to form a guide for and retain said agitator in contact with the screen, ai Xed-handle on one endof 'the receptacle, a fli'rkmivoted to the upper` parttofithehandle, the link extending through an opening formed in the end of the bar extending from the agitator, aspring interposed between the link and the handle to normally position the agitator over the 'screenedopening in the bottom of the receptacle,

whereby when..the` shutter is in open position. material can be 4sifted by reciprocating the agitatoaiior the screened opening closed by sliding the shutter under said opening.

EUGENE LARSCN.

REFERENCES CITED The -folloW-ing references are of record-'in the flle-of` this patent:

` UNITEDSTATES `PAIfENTS f Number 

